NSU Sharks News

Sharks pick up fifth and sixth shutouts of the season

Clearwater, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2009) - The Nova Southeastern University softball team began the Eckerd Spring Invitational with a pair of wins on Friday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The Sharks downed No. 16 Saint Leo 8-0 in five innings and then blanked Flagler 4-0.

In the first game, NSU capitalized on multiple Saint Leo errors. In the second inning, three Lion miscues resulted in NSU going up 2-0. After Jessica Hernandez began the inning with a walk, Saint Leo's infield mishandled Dana Bergner's (Jr., Palm Harbor, Fla.), giving the Sharks two base runners. Both runners advanced one base on a Brittney Lamb (RS-Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) groundout. The Sharks loaded the bases with a Jessica Rockwell (Sr., Middleburg, Fla.) walk. Then with two outs, Saint Leo catch Katrina Muchmore had a throwing error that allowed Hernandez to score and move Bergner and Rockwell each over one base. Bergner got the Sharks' second run of the inning as the Lions' infield misplayed Noemi Luciani's (Jr., Miami, Fla.) hit.

The Sharks added to their lead in the third inning, getting three more runs off three errors. A pair of Saint Leo errors allowed Rachel Talenfeld (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) to score and make it a 3-0 game. Talenfeld initially reached first on a fielding error and then stole second. April Donachie (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) smacked a single to left field, but a Lion fielding error provided Talenfeld with enough time to reach home and Donachie to get to second. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Bergner, who had an infield fielder's choice. However, on the fielder's choice, a poor throw to home plate by the Lions allowed Donachie to get home and give the Sharks a 4-0 advantage. With one out and the bases still loaded, Rockwell sent an RBI-single to center field, driving in Lopez from third.

NSU got its final three runs of the game in fifth inning. Hernandez and Bergner started the Sharks' offense with back-to-back base-hits. After a Lamb groundout moved both Hernandez and Bergner one base, a Rockwell RBI-single to left field drove in Hernandez. With two outs, Luciani laced an RBI-single up the middle to bring in Bergner and give NSU the 7-0 lead. Talenfeld had what proved to be the game-ending hit as she sent the ball down the left field line, driving in Rockwell for the game's final run.

Dani Caron (Jr., Wellington, Fla.) received the win en route to moving to 6-1 on the season. Caron threw all five innings and fanned nine batters, while allowing six hits.

Ashley Urbanik had the loss after allowing eight runs - three earned - off seven hits in 4.2 innings.

Rockwell was 2-for-2 from the plate with two RBI and one run.

Against Flagler, NSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. With one out and runners on first and second, a Lopez single to right field allowed Luciani to score from second for the game's first run.

The Sharks went up by two in the fifth. After Luciani walked, Talenfeld laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Luciani over to second. A Donachie walk and a Lopez single loaded the bases up for Hernandez, who hit a fielder's choice to shortstop Heather Hill. Luciani beat out Hill's throw to the plate as NSU took a 2-0 lead.

NSU doubled its margin in the seventh. With one out and a runner on second, Lopez hit a ground-rule double that drove in Talenfeld. Then on an attempt to pick-off Lopez at second, Andy Hay's throw sailed into the outfield, allowing Lopez to reach home and make it a 4-0 game.

Lexi Sarradet (So., Miami, Fla.) fired a one-hitter as she received the win and improved to 8-2 on the season. Sarradet had nine strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Sam Boatner had the loss after giving up six hits and four runs - three earned - in seven innings.

Lopez was a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate with two RBI and one run.

NSU continues play at the Eckerd Spring Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on Saturday. The Sharks face Valdosta State at 2 p.m., and then host Eckerd at 4 p.m.

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